Quail outlook: A tough season ahead

PHOENIX — Those record-setting rains that soaked most of the state, including the Valley, over the first two weeks of October?

If you’re an Arizona bird hunter, keep your fingers crossed there’s even more on the way over the next few months to help give quail populations a desperately needed boost in 2019-2020.

As for the 2018-2019 season, which begins Friday, “well below average” might be the best way to describe statewide quail-hunting prospects. On second thought, it might be too kind.

“The winter precipitation patterns (last year) were not good for Arizona’s desert quail (Gambel’s and scaled),” said Wade Zarlingo, small game program manager for the Arizona Game and Fish Department. “Gambel’s quail spring call counts were 50 percent below our 10-year averages, meaning breeding activity was poor.

“We had good monsoon moisture throughout Arizona and habitat conditions to support chick development and survival. With poor winter rains and good monsoon moisture, we usually see very spread-out hatches with low brood survival for Gambel’s and scaled quail.”

So, where are the quail?

“Overall, desert quail numbers seem to be much lower than we typically see,” Zarlingo said. “Gambel’s quail are very widespread south of the Mogollon Rim, and there will be pockets where it will be possible to harvest a fair number of birds.

“Keep in mind that Gambel’s and scaled quail populations have been very depressed for a number of years, and it will take consecutive years of timely winter precipitation to bring back those populations to where they were in the late 1980s.”

When it comes to scaled quail, found mainly in Cochise and southern Graham counties, Zarlingo said populations have been hit hard by drought and habitat degradation from tree and shrub invasion into grassland areas. Local wildlife managers report poor call counts for scaled quail, so prospects for this season do not look good.

Meanwhile, hunters should note that the season for Mearns’ quail doesn’t begin until Dec. 7. Zarlingo said Cochise and southern Pima counties are the traditional strongholds for these birds, which favor oak-grassland or pine-grassland savannas. The outlook for this season is much better, as brood survival is predicated on timely monsoon rains.

“The summer monsoon moisture was good statewide, with rain falling throughout the summer,” Zarlingo said. “Without surveys associated with Mearns’ quail, we’re expecting a good year for brood production.”

The season for Gambel’s, scaled and California quail, which receives little hunting pressure and is found along the Little Colorado River drainage near Springerville, opens Friday, Oct. 19, and runs through Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019. Mearns’ quail can be hunted starting Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, through Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019.

A valid Arizona hunting or combination license is required for all hunters 10 and older. Those hunters under 10 must either have a valid hunting or combination license, or be accompanied by an adult who possesses a valid hunting or combination license. Licenses can be purchased online or at license dealers statewide. A youth combination license (ages 10 to 17) is $5.

The general bag limit is 15 quail per day in the aggregate, of which no more than eight may be Mearns’ quail. The general possession limit is 45 quail in the aggregate after opening day, of which no more than 15 Gambel’s, scaled or California quail in the aggregate may be taken in any one day. After the opening of the Mearns’ season, the 45-quail possession limit may include 24 Mearns’ quail, of which no more than eight may be taken in any one day.